Carlo Acutis, dubbed ‘God’s influencer,’ to become first millennial saint as Vatican approves canonization

Blessed Carlo Acutis, a British-born Italian teen, will officially be the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint after his canonization was approved by the Vatican.

According to the Vatican Monday, the Pope decreed the canonization would happen after cardinals voted in favor of Carlo’s sainthood. Fourteen other individuals are set to be saints, along with Carlo.

The date for Carlo’s canonization and formal declaration as a saint is yet to be announced. Canonization ceremonies happen in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City presided over by the pope and in front of thousands.

The sainthood process in Catholicism requires two miracles attributed to candidates, and an in-depth investigation will follow before they will be declared as saints.

In 2013, the Vatican said Carlo cured a Brazilian boy suffering from a rare pancreatic disease.

Last May, a second miracle was attributed to him, which Pope Francis also recognized. It took place in 2022, when a university student from Costa Rica, who suffered severe head trauma after falling from her bicycle in Florence, Italy, was healed. According to reports, her mother said she prayed for her daughter’s recovery at the tomb of Acutis in Assisi.

Carlo died from leukemia in 2006 at 15 years old. He is often depicted as wearing either a red collared shirt or a track jacket.

Carlo was interested in computer programming, video games, pets, traveling, taking photos, and making films.

During his life, he started and managed a website called “Eucharistic Miracles of the World” that documented reports of miracles around the world. With this, he was informally dubbed as “God’s Influencer,” and the “Patron Saint of the Internet.”

Carlo was religious since childhood and was known for his kindness, especially to the poor and marginalized.

"With his savings, he bought sleeping bags for homeless people and in the evening he brought them hot drinks," his mother told the Catholic News Agency.

"He said it was better to have one less pair of shoes if it meant being able to do one more good work," she said.

Carlo also volunteered at a soup kitchen.

Carlo was beatified as Blessed in 2020. A sculpture of the teen was blessed at a church in Paete, Laguna that same year, and is under the care of the Aquino Family of Moncada, Tarlac.

— Nika Roque/LA, GMA Integrated News